Draw works having dual drive



Aug. 22, i939. w. D. DAVIDSON DRAW WORKS HAVING DUAL DRIVE F'iled Dec. 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet Aug. 22, 1939., w. D, DAVIDSON DRAW WORKS HAVING DUAL DRIVE Filed Deo;V

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fl T T ORNE Y ,Aug 22, i939.. W. D. DAVIDSON, H0355 DRAW WORKS HAVING DUAL DRIVE Filed Dec. 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 casing and for driving a rotary machine. l'5f present time oil wells are drilled to a considerable Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES wialifiirr OFFICE DRAW WORKS HAVING DUAL DRIVE Application December 16, 1938, Serial No. 246,141

9 Claims.

My invention relates to rotary drawworks oi the type commonly employed in the well drilling industry for hoisting various tools, drill pipe, or At the depth, and in order to raise and lower the various parts, particularly the drill pipe, at a maximum efiiciency it is necessary to have a drawworks with a number of different speeds and powers. When the well is relatively shallow the power required to raise the drill pipe is quite small as compared to the power required to raise the drill pipe when the well is at a considerable depth. The power required to drive the rotary machine is usually considerably less than that required to handle a long string oi drill pipe, and therefore in the common type of drawworks now in use today employing a heavy steam engine there is considerable waste of power when the rotary table is being rotated and the hoisting apparatus is not in operation.

1t is an object of my invention to provide a rotary machine having a main engine and an auxiliary engine, either or both of which may be employed to operate the drawworks.

It is an object of my invention to provide a drawworks in which the auxiliary engine may be employed to operate the rotary machine even during the time that the hoisting apparatus is in operation. This is a valuable feature and enables various operations to be performed which can not be performed on the ordinary drawworks, such, for example, as drilling up to loosena stuck drill pipe.

It is an object of my invention to provide a rotary drawworks and engine combination which employs two engines of smaller size and of less cost than standard in order that the iirst cost of the apparatus may be lower and in order that there may be greater economy in operation, this last mentioned feature being accomplished due to the fact that both engines are employed only when it is necessary to have their combined power.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a rotary drawworks having a greater flexibility of drives and power in order that there may be a suitable drive available for handling heavy or light loads and for moving the same at the maximum economical rate of travel.

It is an object of my invention to provide a rotary drawworks in which two engine drives are provided, either of which may be employed so 55-that in case of an emergency where one engine (Cl. Z55-19) fails the other may be employed, thus eliminating shut downs.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a drawworks having means whereby the Robishaw reel may be operated, preferably independently of the other apparatus, so that it is unnecessary to have a number of shafts of the drawworks rotating.

It is a further object of my invention to providea rotary drawworks in which all of the parts are idle when driving the rotary machine except those particular parts which connect the drive engine to the rotary machine. In this way Considerable wear on the drawworks parts will be eliminated.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will'become apparent during the course of the following description of the different forms in which 'my invention may be embodied. The principles of my invention may be embodied in other structures than those illustrated, and I therefore wish my invention to vbe broadly construed in accordance with the preceding statement of invention and appended claims and not to be limited to the details of construction of the forms of my invention which I have chosen for the purpose of illustrating the various features and advantages of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the drawworks and drive means of my invention employed in a derrick, most of the parts of this view being diagrammatically shown.

Fig.' 2 is a plan view of the drawworks and drive means oi' my invention, the main and auxiliary engines being diagrammatically illustrated.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are diagrammatic plan views illustrating other embodiments of my invention.

AReferring to Figs. 1 and 2 in detail, the numeral I5 represents a derrick having a derrick floor I6 on which a rotary machine l1 is mounted and atene side of which a drawworks I8 incorporating the features of my invention is also mounted. The rotary machine has a rotary table I9 through which a string of drill pipe 26 rotated thereby is extended, this rotary machine Il having a sprocket 2l which is driven by a chain 22 extended to the drawworks I8. The drill pipe 20 is raised or lowered by a travelling block 24 around which is extended a cable 25 which passes over a crown block 25 and then to the drawworks i8. The travelling block 24 is yalso used for raising or lowering various other parts around v the derrick.

VThe drawworks I8 includes a base in the form of frame structures 21, each of which includes an I-beam 28 which is preferably supported on a foundation |6a. These I-beams 28 are suitably secured together by cross-beams 29 to form a rigid structure. Each of the frame structures 21 includes, in addition to the I-beam 28, an upright structure designated by the numeral 30.

My invention provides a jack shaft 33 which extends in a horizontal plane across the drawworks in a position near the rear part thereof, being rotatably supported by bearings 34 mounted on the rearward upright beams 39a of the upright structures 39. The numeral 36 ydesignates a line shaft which is mounted in a horizontal position parallel to the jack shaft but is in a forward position and a higher position than the jack shaft. This line shaft 36 is supported by bearings 31 mounted on the upper horizontal beams 39h of each upright structure 30. My in.- vention also provides a drum shaft 46 which extends parallel to the other two shafts and isl positioned in a plane in front of the line shaft but somewhat lower, as illustrated best in Fig. 1. The drum shaft, however, is in a plane slightly higher than the jack shaft 33. The `drum shaft i8 is supported by bearings 4| secured to the front inclined member 39C of the upright structures 36. Thus drum shaft 40 is provided with a hoistingdrum of conventional type having brake structures 44 mounted at each end thereof and operated by suitable brake operating means of a type well known in the industry, and which, for the sake of clarity and simplicity, has not been illustrated.

The jack shaft 33 has a jack shaft drive sprocket Ll1 which is driven from a prime mover in the form of a main engine 48 through a sprocket chain 49. The sprocket 41 is rotatable on the jack Shaft 33 but may be fixed to and caused to drive the jack shaft 33 by engaging a clutch 58. The clutch 59, as well as any of the other clutches of the apparatus, may be operated by clutch operating means Well known in the industry and which may be applied by any skilled mechanic. For the sake of clearness and simplicity, the various clutch operating means have not been illustrated. The line shaft 36 may be driven from the jack shaft by a primary line shaft drive or a secondary line shaft drive 52, the first mentioned line shaft drive including a sprocket 53 rotatably mounted on the jack shaft 33, a sprocket 54 fixed to the line shaft 36, and a sprocket chain 55 extending over the sprockets 53 and 54, and the second mentioned line shaft drive including a sprocket 51 rotatably mounted on the jack shaft 33, a sprocket 58 fixed to the line shaft 36, and a sprocket chain 59 extending around these two sprockets. Either drive may be employed, depending upon the position of a clutch 69 which may be operated through clutch operating mechanism (not shown) to cause either the sprocket 53 or the sprocket 51 to be lockedY to and driven by the jack shaft 33.

The drum shaft 46 may be driven by a primary drum shaft drive 64 or a secondary drum shaft drive 65, the former of which includes a sprocket 66 xed to the line shaft 36, a sprocket 61 rotatable on the drum shaft 46, and a sprocket chain 68 extending around the sprocket 66 and ,61, and the latter drive including a sprocket 18 'fixed to the line shaft 36, a sprocket 1| rotatable on the drum shaft 46, and a sprocket chain 12 extending around the sprockets and 1|. The primary drum shaft drive 64 may be brought into operationby the actuation of a clutch13 mounted on the drum shaft 40 or the secondary drum shaft drive means may be brought into operation by the operation of a clutch 14 also mounted on the drum shaft 40.

The rotary drive means of the invention includes a rotary drive sprocket 18 which is rotatably mounted on the extending end of the jack shaft 33, but which may be locked thereto by the operation of a clutch 19. In the preferred form of my invention an idler 99 is rotatably mounted on an extending end of the drum shaft 46 and has a sprocket element 8| over which the chain 22 to the rotary machine |1 is extended. The rotary drive sprocket has a sprocket element 82 and the idler has a sprocket element 83, and a sprocket chain 84 extends around these sprocket elements so that the idler 80 may be driven.

My invention also provides an auxiliary drive means in the form of an auxiliary engine 85. In the preferred form of my invention the main engine 48 is capable of delivering the greater power, while the auxiliary vengine 85 is preferably only of suflicient horse power to properly drive the rotary machine or Robishaw drive. The auxiliary engine has a primary drive in the form of a sprocket 86 rotatably mounted on the auxiliary engine shaft 81 which includes a clutch diagrammatically shown at 89 which when disengaged allows the shaft to rotate independent of the auxiliary engine. Extending over the sprocket 86 and also over a sprocket element 88 of the drive sprocket 18 is a sprocket chain 96 whereby the rotary drive sprocket 88 may be driven by the auxiliary engine 85 when a clutch 9| is in mesh. The auxiliary engine also has a secondary auxiliary engine drive and includes a sprocket 92 rotatably mounted on the auxiliary engine shaft 81, a. sprocket 93 rotatably mounted on the jack shaft 33, and a sprocket chain 94 extending around these two sprockets. The sprocket 92 may be locked to and driven by the shaft 81 by engaging the clutch 95, and the sprocket 93 may be xed to and drive the `ack shaft 33 by engaging a clutch 96. The auxiliary engine also hasl a Robishaw reel drive for the purpose of operating a Robishaw reel 98 which is positioned as diagrammatically shown in Figs. l and 2, and which includes a drum 99 on which a cable |66 may be wound, which cable extends to the crown of the derrick and may be employed for the raising and lowering of certain parte. The Robishaw drive includes a Robishaw drive sprocket |82 rotatably mounted on the auxiliary engine shaft 88, a sprocket |03 mounted on a shaft |64 of the Robishaw drive 98 on which the drum 99 is mounted, and a sprocket chain |95 which extends over these two sprockets. The sprocket |02 may be driven by the shaft 81 upon engagement of a clutch |66.

The Vdrawworks combination of my invention has a large number of different drives which will now be described. The main engine 48 may be employed for driving the host or drum 43 by engaging the clutch 50 and the clutch 60 with either of the sprockets 53 or 51 and with either of the clutch-es 13 or 14 in engagement. At this time the clutches 19, 9|, 95, 96, and |02 may be disengaged. The main engine may be employed for driving the rotary machine by engaging the clutch 56 and the clutch 19 and by disengaging the clutchesl 6D, 9|, 95, and |96. The main engine may be employed for driving the drum and the auxiliary engine employed for simultaneously operating-the rotary machine by engaging the clutches 50 and 60 and the clutch 9|. It will 75,1.-

iary engine 85 are employed to drive the jack l The auxiliary engine may be employed to drive the drum i3 by engaging the clutches 95 and 96 while the clutches 50 and 9| are disengaged. This drive arrangement may be desirable when very small loads are being carried or when the main engine 48 is disabled. The auxiliary engine 85 may be independently employed to drive the rotary machine by engaging the clutch 9|, the clutches '19, 95, 96, and |06, as well as the clutch 59, being disengaged. The auxiliary engine 85 may be separately employed to drive the Robishaw reel e8 by engaging the clutch H36, all other clutches being disengaged.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a form of my invention in which fthe sprockets 92 and |92 are formed integrally to forma sprocket member generally designated by the numeral H5 and which are locked to the shaft El by the clutch 9|. In this form of my invention it is desirable to rotatably mount the sprocket |03 on the Robishaw shaft |04 and to provide a clutch HS for fixing the same to the shaft. This is desirable in order that this clutch may be disengaged when the clutch 9| and clutch 96 are in engagement.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 4 the shaft 8l is mad-e separate from the auxiliary engine t5 and is provided with a sprocket adapted to be driven by a chain IIB which extends around a sprocket ||9 mounted on the auxiliary engine sprocket shaft 81a. In this form of my invention the auxiliary engine 85 may be conveniently mounted any suitable distance from the shaft 81.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 5 the Robishaw drive sprocket |02 is provided in the form of a sprocket |02a which is rotatably mounted on the jack shaft 33 and adapted toy be locked thereto and driven thereby in the operation o-f a clutch Ia. In this form of my Vinvention the auxiliary engine 85 has but a single sprocket Bea which is fixed to the shaft 81.

In the preceding description the terms main" and auxiliary are employed in a relative sense; and it is within the scope of my invention to have the auxiliary engine 85 of as great or greater horse power than the main engine 48. Also the terms primary and secondary as applied to certain of the drives are employed to distinguish one from the other. Broadening terms have been used in the description and claims to broadly define my invention in order that the claims may be commensurate with the scope o-f my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination: a drawworks having a drawworks shaft, a hoisting drum, drum drive means whereby said shaft may drive said drum, and clutch means for said drum drive means; a drawworks shaft drive means whereby a main engine may drive said drawworks shaft; drawworks shaft drive means clutch for said drawworks shaft drive; rotary drive means having a rotary drive sprocket rotatable on said drawworks shaft; primary auxiliary engine drive means whereby an auxiliary engine may drive said rotary machine-drive sprocket; and clutch means for locking said rotary drive sprocket to said drawworks shaft.

2. In combination: a drawworks having a drawworks shaft, a hoisting drum, drum drive means whereby said shaft may drive said drum, and clutch means for said drum drive means; a drawworks shaft drive means whereby a main engine may drive said drawworks shaft; drawworks shaft drive means clutch of said drawworks shaft drive; rotary drive means having a rotary drive sprocket rotatable on said drawworks shaft; primary auxiliary engine drive means whereby an auxiliary engine may drive said rotary machine drive sprocket; and secondary auxiliary engine drive means whereby said auxiliary engine may drive said drawworks shaft.

3. In combination: a drawworks having a drawworks shaft, a hoisting drum, drum drive meansrwh'ereby said shaft may drive said drum, and clutch means for said drum drive means; a drawworks shaft drive means whereby a main engine may drive said drawworks shaft; drawworks shaft drive means clutch for said drawworks shaft drive; rotary drive means having a rotary drive sprocket rotatable on said drawworks shaft; primary auxiliary engine drive means whereby an auxiliary engine may drive` said rotary machine drive sprocket;'seoondary auxiliary engine drive means whereby said auxiliary engine may drive said drawworks shaft; and clutch means for locking said rotary drive sprocket to said drawworks shaft.

4. In combination: a drawworks having a drawworks shaft, a hoisting drum, drum drive means whereby said shaft may drive said drum, and clutch means for said drum drive means; a drawworks shaft drive means whereby a main engine may drive said drawworks shaft; drawworks shaft drive means clutch for said drawworks shaft drive; rotary drive means having a rotary drive sprocket rotatable on said drawworks shaft; primary auxiliary engine drive means whereby an auxiliary engine may drive said rotary machine drive sprocket; clutch means for locking said rotary drive sprocket to said drawworks shaft; and Robishaw reel drive means whereby said auxiliary engine may drive a Robishaw reel.

5. In combination: a drawworks v having a drawworks shaft, a hoisting drum, drum drive means whereby said shaft may drive said drum, and clutch means for said drum drive means; a drawworks shaft drive means whereby a main engine may drive said drawworks shaft; drawworks shaft drive means clutch for said drawworks shaft drive; rotary drive means having a rotary drive sprocket rotatable on said drawworks shaft; primary auxiliary engine drive means whereby an auxiliary engine may drive said rotary machine drive sprocket; secondary auxiliary engine drive means whereby said auxiliary engine may drive said drawworks shaft; clutch means for locking said rotary drive sprocket to said drawworks shaft; and Robishaw reel drive means whereby said auxiliary engine may drive a Robishaw reel.

6. In combination: a drawworks having a drawworks shaft, a hoisting drum, drum drive means whereby said shaft may drive said drum, and clutch means for said drum drive means; a drawworks shaft drive means whereby a main engine may drive said drawworks shaft; drawworks shaft drive means clutch for said drawworks shaft drive; rotary drive means having a rotary drive sprocket rotatable on said drawworks shaft; primary auxiliary engine drive means whereby an auxiliary engine may drive said rotary machine drive sprocket; primary auxiliary engine drive clutch means yfor said primary auxiliary engine drive means; and clutch means for locking said rotary drive sprocket to said drawworks shaft.

'7. In combination: a drawworks having a drawworks shaft, a hoisting drum, drum drive means whereby said shaftmay drive said drum, and clutch means for said drum drive means; a drawworks shaft drive means whereby a main engine may drive said drawworks shaft; drawworks shaft drive means clutch for said drawworks shaft drive; rotary drive means having a rotary drive sprocket rotatable on said drawworks shaft; primary auxiliary engine drive means whereby an auxiliary engine may drive said rotary machine drive sprocket; primary auxiliary engine drive clutch meansrfor said primary auxiliary engine drive means; secondary auxiliary engine drive means whereby said auxiliary engine may drive said drawworks shaft; and secondary auxiliary engine drive clutch means for said secondary auxiliary engine drive means.

8.1n combination: a vdrawworks having a drawworks shaft, a hoisting drum, drum drive means whereby said shaft may drive said drum, and clutch means for said drum drive means; a drawworks shaft drive means whereby a main engine may drive said drawworks shaft; drawworks shaft drive means clutch for said drawworks shaft drive; rotary drive means having a rotary drive sprocket rotatable on said drawworks shaft; primary auxiliary engine drive means whereby an auxiliary engine may drive said rotary machine drive sprocket; primary auxiliary engine drive clutch means for said primary auxiliary engine drive means; secondary auxiliary engine drive means whereby said auxiliary engine may drive said drawworks shaft; secondary auxiliary engine drive clutch means for said secondary auxiliary engine drive means; and clutch means for locking said rotary drive sprocket to said drawworks shaft.

9. In combination: a drawworks having a drawworks shaft, a hoisting drum, drum drive means whereby said shaft may drive said drum, and clutch means for said drum drive means; a drawworks shaft drive means whereby a main engine may drive said drawworks shaft; drawworks shaft drive means clutch for said drawwo-rks shaft drive; rotary drive means having a rotary drive sprocket rotatable on said drawworks shaft; primary auxiliary engine drive means whereby an auxiliary engine may drive said rotary machine drive sprocket; primary auxiliary engine drive clutch means for said primary auxiliary engine drive means; secondary auxiliary engine drive means whereby said auxiii-ary engine may drive said drawworks shaft; secondary auxiliary engine drive clutch means .for said secondary auxiliary engine drive means;

WILLIAM D. DAVIDSON.

I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,170,565. August 22, 1959.

WILLIAM D. DAVIDSON. It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, linee 11, claim 2, for the word "of" read for; and that the said Letters Patent. should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of September, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) ActingComnissioner' of Patents. 

